God Gives Us a Variety Show Every Day
Every part of God’s creation, including us human beings, is astoundingly varied. Even my twin sister and I vary in some ways. And we don’t have to go far to see the variety in every tree, bird, mammal, sea creature, and the tiniest part of nature.
Eternal Perspectives by Sally Bair
God’s variety show
On any given summer day, I can count six kinds of birds out my window. Canada geese fly alongside gulls and crows. A pileated woodpecker shares bugs and beetles from a dying maple with a downy woodpecker, a hairy woodpecker, and a red-bellied. That’s not even considering the many varieties of trees, bushes, and flowers that fill my senses everywhere I go. And when I close my eyes, I hear the wind blowing softly through the leaves, a chipmunk scolding another, and constant birdsong. I can watch a variety show every day out my window!
The variety of nature is astounding. Sometimes when I meditate on God's creation, I choose a particular tree. While growing up on our family farm, every morning my gaze went to a lone Red maple in our pasture. How old was it and how many more years would it live? I wondered. What animals did it shelter? What birds built their nests in its branches? How safe would they be? Did it raise its beautifully symmetric branches to praise its Creator God?
I’ve always loved trees. I’ve even hugged a few, but not for the purpose of worship. Rather, as a thank you to God, who made them for us to enjoy and use for our benefit. When I consider a tree, I think of God’s great power and strength, His love of providing us with His love, shelter, and sustenance. We all can gain a greater sense of awe and appreciation for God's handiwork when we consider not only trees but every part of His marvelous, infinitely varied creation.
George Washington Carver also believed God revealed Himself through His creation. A deeply religious Christian famous for his scientific research in the use of peanuts during the mid-1800s, he practiced what we call “creation evangelism,” pointing people toward God through sharing the wonders of His creation.
When King David was a shepherd boy in the hill country of Israel, he had lots of time to meditate on creation. He wrote his thoughts as God gave them, and many of the Psalms tell of his love of God and nature. In Psalm 8:3-4 he wrote, "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers … what is man that You are mindful of him…?" David obviously was humbled by his meditative thoughts about God and creation. His praise and thankfulness are evident in many of the Psalms.
David’s daily practice of meditating on God's handiwork is a great one to follow. Let’s do it!
Lord, we thank You for Your awesome creation. Fill our hearts with humility and thankfulness as we consider Your greatness through our observance of the natural life around us. In Jesus’ name, amen.